Blake Medical Center is proud to announce that the Florida Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense, announced today that Jody Nader, Nursing...

Uses

Principal Proposed Uses

Other Proposed Uses

The prickly ash tree has a long history of use in Native American medicine. The bark was used to treat intestinal cramps, dry mouth, muscle and joint pain, toothache, nervous disorders, arthritis, and leg ulcers. The berries were used for circulatory problems such as
intermittent claudication
and
Raynaud’s syndrome
.

What is Prickly Ash Used for Today?

There are no documented medical uses of prickly ash bark.

In
test-tube studies
, substances called furanocoumarins in prickly ash have shown anti-fungal properties.
1
Another prickly ash constituent, chelerythrine, has shown activity against antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria.
2
However, it is a long way from studies like these to actual evidence of efficacy. Only
double-blind
, placebo-controlled studies can actually show that a treatment works, and none have been performed on prickly ash. (For information on why such studies are essential, see
Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies?)

Dosage

Prickly ash is often taken in the form of tea, made by boiling 5–10 grams of the bark in a cup of water for 10–15 minutes. For toothache, the pieces of the bark may be chewed. Tinctures are also available.

Safety Issues

Prickly ash has not undergone any modern scientific safety evaluation. It contains potentially toxic alkaloids; whether or not these lead to any harmful effects remains unknown.
3,4
Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.